Mayor wants coronavirus test facility in West, Central districts

Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar on Sunday asked the Sindh government to provide coronavirus test facility at least at one of the three public hospitals in Karachi’s central and west districts to cater to over 10 million people living in the two districts.

In a statement issued by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), Akhtar demanded of the provincial government to provide hazmat suits and precautionary kits to the doctors and the paramedical staff.

He said coronavirus tests were being conducted at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, the Indus Hospital and the Dr Ruth KM Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi, but all these hospitals could not cater to the entire city, especially the people of central and west districts.

"People of District Central and West are unable to go to these hospitals due to the closure of public transport. The Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, the Sindh government hospital in New Karachi and the Qatar Hospital in Orangi Town could be provided coronavirus test facility," he said.

The mayor was of the view that more people would have to be tested in the coming week that's why one of these hospitals should be provided with the testing facility.

He said the KMC was facing shortage of funds, and asked the Sindh government to provide kits and other facilities to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, at least which could cater the needs both the districts.

"The people of Orangi Town, Manghopir, Banaras, Pahar Ganj, Nusrat Bhutto Colony, Aligarh Colony and other less privileged areas cannot afford to go far-flung areas, as most of the them are daily-wagers. If they are not provided the facility nearby, their miseries will be increased," he added.

He said he was supporting the federal and provincial governments on behalf of over 300 elected representatives of the local bodies in the fight against the virus spread. He appealed to the philanthropists to come forward and help the needy ones, adding that the local body representatives could be approached for reaching out to the poor communities.